Tag Archive for 'Isiah Thomas'

How this blog got its name

Published by Matt Watson on May 20, 2008 in 2008 Playoffs. 12 Comments

Drew Sharp has a great article in the Detroit Free Press today on the birth of the “Detroit Bad Boys” nickname in 1988:

“It just came up in discussion,” said Don Sperling of NBA Entertainment, the league’s marketing branch that produced a video of the Pistons’ 1987-88 run to the brink of its first league championship.

“We’re talking about possible titles,” Sperling recalled, “and somebody came up with the phrase ‘Bad Boys.’ And if there was ever an occasion when a concept just immediately clicked, that was it. We thought it was perfect. The Pistons thought it was perfect. But little did anybody realize the staying power it would have — even to this day.

“I still catch hell from people for it.”

But its legacy endures as one of the great sports marketing brands.

If you see Rasheed Wallace walking around with a wooden stake tonight, now you know why:

Tonight’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals marks the first time since June 3, 1988, at the Silverdome that these teams met on the floor with a berth in the NBA Finals at stake.

Dumars remembers that night well.

The Pistons held a 3-2 series lead. Laimbeer walked into the locker room prior to the game with a wooden stake. The message was that the devil is never dead until the stake is driven through its heart.

The Pistons won, 95-90.

Bird and Kevin McHale left the floor before time expired. McHale congratulated both Laimbeer and Thomas, telling them not to be satisfied for merely clearing the hurdle that finally got them to the NBA Finals.

Nobody ever remembers that last part! Everybody always talks about how the Pistons snubbed the Bulls by walking off before time expired in 1992 1991 without faulting the Celtics for starting the ugly little tradition.

In any case, read the whole article; I rarely find Sharp’s columns worth linking here, but this is an exception, whether you’re a nostalgia addict like myself or simply someone looking for perspective on what this rivalry used to mean.

Rip Hamilton climbs the leader board

Published by Matt Watson on May 13, 2008 in 2008 Playoffs. 2 Comments

A. Sherrod Blakely points out that Rip Hamilton is on the verge of an impressive milestone: becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs.

Making the record all that more improbable is the fact he has been able to do it in just six postseasons.

He needs just 10 points to tie Isiah Thomas’ franchise record of 2,261 postseason points.

“To me, it’s crazy,” Hamilton said. “Zeke is Detroit. If you get an opportunity to pass him … I don’t even feel as though I’ve been here long enough. It’s a great honor, a great accomplishment. I wouldn’t be able to do it without winning games. That’s the great thing about it.”

I was curious, so I checked the numbers: Isiah averaged 20.4 points in 111 playoff games over nine years; Rip, 20.7 points in 109 (and counting) games over six years. Also, if all goes well, Rip should take over the lead for most playoff games as a Piston, currently held by Bill Laimbeer (113), followed by Joe Dumars (112) and Isiah (111). By playing in Game 4, Hamilton moved into fifth place, moving past Vinnie Johnson (108).

Zeke’s next move

Published by Matt Watson on April 23, 2008 in Alley-Oops and Former Pistons. 0 Comments

Now that he’s been relieved of head coaching duties by the Knicks, what’s Isiah Thomas’ next career move? NBA Comix has the odds.

“Let’s get ready to rock and roll and meet your Bad Boys”

Published by Matt Watson on April 9, 2008 in Former Pistons and Videos. 13 Comments

From my HOOPSWORLD courtside blog:

Over in the other locker room, Isiah Thomas spoke a little bit about the loud ovation he received from the Detroit fans. “It is always kind of embarrassing to live with because we always looked at ourselves as a team and as a Pistons family. Anything that I ever did is because of the team. I’m thankful and I’m grateful and very appreciative of the way that I’m treated here.”

Isiah addressed the crowd before the game and joked that he didn’t know who would win between the old school Bad Boys and today’s Pistons. Rasheed, though, was less bashful. “I think we could have got them. It would be a hell of a game. I’ll tell you that. I’m not sure who would win – of course I’m going to say us – but damn, it would be a hell of a game. A hell of a game.”

For posterity’s sake, the All-Time Team included: Mark Aguirre, Chauncey Billups, Dave Bing, Adrian Dantley, Dave DeBusschere, Joe Dumars, James Edwards, Chris Ford, Richard Hamilton, Grant Hill, Bailey Howell, Lindsey Hunter, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer, Bob Lanier, John Long, Rick Mahorn, Tayshaun Prince, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Ray Scott, Gene Shue, Jerry Stackhouse, Isiah Thomas, Kelly Tripucka, Terry Tyler, Jimmy Walker, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and George Yardley.

I missed this, but A. Sherrod Blakely writes that an all-time starting five was also named: Isiah, Bing, Hill, Rodman and Lanier.

The players credit Bill Davidson for the organization’s success. From Chris McCosky:

To everybody else, it was a celebration of 50 years of Pistons basketball. To the members of the all-time Pistons team, it was a celebration of the man who made it all happen — owner Bill Davidson.

“How ironic is it that we are having this the day after Mr. Davidson was elected to the Hall of Fame,” Dave Bing said. “We all thought he was going to get in last year and that was very disappointing. But to see Adrian (Dantley) and Dick Vitale and Mr. D all get in, it’s come at a nice time for the whole organization.”

Good stuff from Pistons.com:
Text of pre-game speeches from Dave Bing, Isiah Thomas and Chauncey Billups
Pre-game autograph session video
Keith Langlois: Oh, What a Night
The All-Time Team in pictures

Update: If you weren’t lucky enough to attend the game, Need4Sheed has a nice recap of what the television broadcast missed. (Also, if you weren’t lucky enough to even watch the ceremony on TV, well, Need4Sheed has you covered there, too.

16 in 90

Published by Matt Watson on December 26, 2007 in Alley-Oops. 0 Comments

Need4Sheed digs up perhaps the most memorable minute and a half highlight in NBA history: Isiah scores 16 points in 90 seconds.